Water conservation tips

Bathroom

Toilet

  • Toilet flushing consumes nearly half of the daily household consumption using about 5 to 7 gallons per flush.
    • Check your toilets for leaks; a leak wastes more than 100 gallons of water per day.
    • If you think there is a leak, put a few drops of food coloring in the tank, if the bowl water shows color without flushing there is a leak, and repairs are needed.
    • Most new toilets use about 3½ gallons per flush.
    • Toilet dams save about two gallons of water per flush.

Bathing

  • Bathing usually consumes the second greatest quantity of water.
    • Taking a bath uses more water than taking an average shower.
    • Long showers waste five to ten gallons of water per day.
    • Install water-saving showerheads and don't turn the shower on until you are ready to step in.

Sinks

  • Turn the water off while you are shaving, brushing your teeth, or washing your face.
  • Use an electric razor.

Kitchen & laundry

  • When buying a washing machine, look for models with water or energy-saving controls.
  • Adjust your washing machine level for the size of the load of clothes that you are washing.
  • When washing dishes by hand, use the drain stopper in the sink and only turn the water back on to rinse the dishes.
  • Add ¼ to ½ cup of vinegar to your wash water, this will cut down the grease faster and better than hot water alone.
  • Only run your dishwasher with a full load. Each load uses about 25 gallons of water, so make sure each load counts.
  • Don't run water when peeling vegetables; rinse them afterward.
  • Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator to have cool water on hand.
  • Check faucets and pipes for leaks; many leaks can be repaired with inexpensive washers.
  • Check your water softener to be sure it is not leaking or cycling more than it should be.

Lawn & yard

  • When watering do it in the early morning or the evening when the sun has gone down as the sun evaporates water.
  • Set your underground sprinklers to not water when it is raining.
  • Be sure outside faucets are turned off after use.